The Roman Pontiff and the Breviary: Response to Dr. Peter Kwasniewski (Video)

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The Pope and the Breviary: Response to Dr. Peter Kwasniewski (Video)

Host Louie Verrecchio and guest Mario Derksen dismantled a recent article by Dr. Peter Kwasniewski

On Mar. 26, 2025, Dr. Peter Kwasniewski published an article on the New Liturgical Movement site entitled, “Do Priests or Religious Need Special Permission to Pray a Pre-55 Breviary?”.

In it, the author, who is a popular and prolific advocate of recognize-and-resist traditionalism, attempts to answer the question whether clerics who are required by canon law to pray daily the Roman Breviary (aka Divine Office, Liturgy of the Hours) may fulfill their obligation by using the Breviary edition from before 1955, that is, before Pope Pius XII simplified the rubrics for the Sacred Liturgy with the decree Cum Nostra Hac Aetate of the Sacred Congregation of Rites (Mar. 23, 1955).

Not surprisingly, Kwasniewski ‘concludes’ that no special permission to use the pre-1955 Breviary is needed; his argumentation, however, is inadequate. In fact, to reach his highly desired conclusion and avoid a contrary one, Prof. K does not even shy away from using the ‘authority’ of the Modernist Joseph Ratzinger (in his role as ‘Pope Benedict XVI’) to dismiss the binding force of the clear orders of Pope Pius X, a canonized saint whom Kwasniewski has elsewhere had the gall to accuse of “liturgical modernism”!

To dissect and critique the theology of Peter Kwasniewski based on his article about the pre-1955 Breviary, Louie Verrecchio of akacatholic.com kindly invited yours truly to appear on his podcast show for an extended interview, which we present below.

The entire program is nearly 2 hours long and can be watched both on the Novus Ordo Watch YouTube channel (embedded below) or on Verrecchio’s own YouTube channel (direct link here):

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We are confident that viewers will find this episode of the akaCatholic Podcast to be loaded with useful information, important insights, astute analysis, and compelling argumentation using reliable sources. Even people who may disagree with the two speakers will find this video to be well worth their time.

The following links are part of the SHOW NOTES for this episode:

• New Liturgical Movement article by Dr. Kwasniewski: “Do Priests or Religious Need Special Permission to Pray the Pre-1955 Breviary?” 
• Post on Dr. Kwasniewski’s personal blog: “An Irenic Response to an Orthodox Convert’s Critique of the Papacy”
• Dr. Kwasniewski accuses Pope St. Pius X of “liturgical modernism”: “Too Traditional for Tradition? Peter Kwasniewski vs. Pope Saint Pius X”
• History of the Roman Breviary by Monsignor Pierre Batiffol (1912)
• YouTube: Peter Kwasniewski Declares ‘Traditionis Custodes’ Null and Void
• Peter Kwasniewski Laments Heretical Book Denying Papal Infallibility Is Out Of Print
• Numerous Novus Ordo Watch articles refuting Peter Kwasniewski (listed here)
• Pope St. Pius X’s Address “Con Vera Soddisfazione” (May 10, 1909)
• Pope St. Pius X’s Apostolic Constitution “Divino Afflatu” (Nov. 1, 1911)
• Pope Leo XIII’s Letter “Epistola Tua” to Archbishop of Paris (June 17, 1885)
• The Magisterial Catholic Teaching on the Papacy (collection of quotes)

We pray and hope that everyone will find this episode of the akaCatholic Podcast edifying and useful. Please spread the word and share it on social media so that more people will be exposed to this important content.

Image source: YouTube (screenshot)